Automatic check for refrigerating systems



Nov. 5, 1935.

R. HQ GUYToN AUTOMATIC CHECK FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed April 18,1933 llllllil I Patented ov. 5, 1935 AUTOMATIC @HECK FR REFRIGERAGSYSTEMS Robert lill. Guyton, Chicago, lill., lor to TheBrunswick-Ballxe-Collender Company, Chicago, lill., a corporation oiDelaware Application April 318, 1933, Serial No. 666,693

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved automatic] check for refrigeratingsystems and has for one of its principal objects the provision of meansto be incorporated into a refrigerating system whereby the flow ofrefrigerant to the cooling unit or evaporator is automatically shut offin theevent of extreme heat conditions or the like occurring at theevaporator, thereby preventing damage to the unit which would otherwiseresult.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide, inconnection with the usual refrigerating system, means connected to orassociated with, the cooling unit and the liquid refrigerant linewhereby any `application of undesirable excess heat to the cooling unitor expension part of the system, either accidental or otherwise, willautomatically prevent the further iiow of liquid refrigerant through thesystem.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such anautomatic shut-off for reirigerating lines which shall be simple inconstruction, positive in operation, and which will not be at all likelyto get out of order, and which, furthermore, will be immediatelyavailable for use whenever necessary while at the same time will notinterfere in any way with the usual operation of the apparatus.

Other and further important objects ci the so invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and followingspecification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing andhereinaitermore fully described.

In the drawingv The ngure is a general view, partly diagrammatic, andwith most "of the important parts shown in section, illustrating theconstruction and operation of the ordinary type of refrigeratingapparatus and with the improved check valve of this invention appliedthereto.

As shown in the drawing- The reference numeral ld indicates generallythe usual compressor of a refrigerating system,

the same being operated by means of a motor sure line empties into aliquid refrigerant chamber 20 in which is a normal supply of liquidrefrigerant 22, the same being forced outwardly through a refrigerantsupply pipe or the like 2li into a cooling unit or evaporator 26, whichin this particular adaptation of the invention includesacontrol iioat 2Bfor maintaining the supply r of liquid refrigerant 22 at a desiredlevel. Located in this liquid refrigerant 22 is a set of coils t@through which the material to be cooled is cir culated, which, in thisparticular embodiment of the invention, is beer, which is orginallycontained in a keg, barrel, or the like, i2. The beer is forced upwardlyinto the cooling coils it through a pipe Ciel, being expelledtherethrough by compressed air or the likesupplied to the barrel throughthe usual inlet pressure pipe it. lill The beer or other liquid entersthe cooling unit through an inlet port 38. An outlet port t@ is providedfrom whence the beer is delivered direct to dispensing faucets or thelike.

A return pipe i2 for vaporized refrigerant is 20 provided, which leadsthrough a pressure regulating valve ifi back to the pump i@ by means ofa pipe t6. The valve it is adapted to control the pressure in the systemand acts as a throttling valve. 25

In installations of this sort it often happens that, in cleaning thesame, through accident or otherwise, a quantity of hot, scalding wateror steam isintroduced into the cooling coils it from the beer pipe 36and this obviously will raise the 30 temperature ol the refrigerant 22to a very undesirable degree and might result in considerable damage tothe apparatus.

Accordingly, in order to prevent further inflow of liquid refrigerant,in the event of such unde- 35 sirable heating, a thermostatic elementdit is placed in or on the beer line 3ft, which element is connected bymeans of a tube or the'like 5t to a check valve casing 52 in which ismounted a valve element 5t, which valve element in turn i0 is adapted toshut o thefiow of liquid refrigerant through the pipe 2t. The valve 5tis operated by means of the usual power element 5t, which comprises abellows and spring, as illustrated. 45

This particular apparatus is shown in connection with the serving ofbeer or other liquid reireshments and includes an auxiliary cooling unit@t which can be used for cooling bottled beer or the like and which isfed by pipes 56 leading from 50 the main refrigerant pipes 2d and t6. Asimilar automatic check equipment may be installed-in connection withthis auxiliary cooling unit it desired or found necessary or advisable.

' It will be evident that herein is provided an 55 automatic shut-oil'means for positively stopping the flow of liquid refrigerant to a systemof this type in the event of undesirable or accidental heat conditions,whereby consequent possibility 1. of damage to the equipment isautomatically eliminated and which accordingly will be of considerableadvantage when installed in equipment of this type, particularly as anywritten instructions which might ordinarily be furnished to provideagainst such undesirable conditions are usually not read; or if oral,are quickly forgotten.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted thereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my inventionl. In a refrigerating system for liquids, havingcoils for the liquid, said coils immersed in the refrigerant, automaticmeans for stopping the flow of liquid refrigerant to the coils uponapplication of excess heat to the same, said automatic means including apower operated valve and a thermostatic element connected to the powervalve, said thermostatic element mounted on the equipment at a pointwhere any such excess heat would be initiated.

2. In a refrigerating system for liquids, having an evaporator, coilsfor the liquid to be cooled mounted in the evaporator, automatic meansfor stopping the ilow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator uponapplication of excess heat to the same, said automatic means including apower operated valve and a connection between 10 the power valve and theliquid circulating system for operating the power valve in the event ofundue heat in the system.

3. In a cooling system for liquids, a cooling unit comprising a casingfor' refrigerant to be 15 evaporated and a coil therein for the liquidto be cooled, automatic means for stopping the ow of liquid refrigerantto the cooling unit upon application of excess heat to the unit, saidautomatic means including a power operated valve 20 and 'a connectionbetween the power valve and the liquid supply line for operating thepower valve in the event of excess heat in the line, said connectioncomprising a thermostatic element on the liquid line and a pipe leadingfrom the 25 power valve to the element.

" ROBERT H. GUYTON.

